About Us

GO PLACES YOU'VE NEVER BEEN

It was love at first sight. After discovering the sport of standup paddling, we fell in love with it almost immediately. Paddle Board RI started as an idea in the fall of 2011 after a summer of paddling and becoming addicted to this new sport. What if we could introduce people to standup paddling and get them to experience the Ocean State as it's never been experienced before? And so PBRI was born! Our first full season was in 2012 and we have not looked back since getting things rolling. We simply want to share the stoke and help people experience what has become such a healthy, spiritual, refreshing, competitive and fun addition to our lives. Paddle Board RI is not just about stand up paddling, we are about enjoying the ocean and sand, the water and nature's surroundings. The ocean and beaches are very important to us. We are active members of the Surfrider Foundation, Save the Bay, and SUP Cleanup.

SEE THINGS YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN

We are NOT the typical rental company that gives you a board, sends you on your way and tells you what time to be back. In fact, we don't even offer rentals. We ALWAYS have an instructor with our groups the entire time. Our #1 goal is to have fun but we do so in a safe way. We are about the experience. We are about the smiles, the laughs, and the memories. We love to paddle and we love to share our passion with anyone that we can. We are about a lifestyle centered around the ocean, building a SUP community and most importantly, getting together with like-minded people. Most of our tours, lessons and special events take place in southern Rhode Island but we paddle anywhere we can. We have paddled as far and wide as Hawaii, London, Costa Rica, California, New Hampshire, Cape Cod and Florida. We frequently paddle across the bridges in Newport and even circumnavigated the island of Jamestown. Come share in the enjoyment of this amazing sport and experience the Ocean State with us like you've never experienced it before.

MEET US

Our team has grown and changed over the years and we're always thankful for the friendships, relationships and good people we have met along the way. One of the coolest parts of stand up paddling is the family feeling, not just in Rhode Island, but all over the world. It's as if you're part of a secret society and when someone sees you paddling or finds out that you're a stand up paddler, there's an instant connection. We're always looking to add talented paddlers to our team in different capacities. We strive to bring a very diverse and dynamic offering to our customers. If you're interested in joining us as a collaborator, partner, or co-worker, please send us a note to say hi.

JOHN

Founder | Co-Owner

John grew up as a little kid spending every summer on Cape Cod, playing in the sand at Nauset Beach. His love for the ocean started early and has only grown stronger. He loves the ocean and anything connected to it. John truly believes that being on the water is a healing force in nature. That being said, he spends most of his free time in some sort of water-based activity, including stand up paddling, surfing, scuba diving, free diving, and even underwater hockey. He first started stand up paddling in 2010 and fell in love with it almost immediately. Also an avid SUP racer, John competes in as many races as possible and loves the friendly competition that each race offers. He was lucky enough to spend a year training with world-class waterman, Anthony Vela, in the Performance Paddling training group in southern California which has only increased his passion and desire to become a better paddler, surfer and all-around person.

John is a PaddleFit and WPA certified instructor.

KRISTIN

Co-Owner | Design Guru

Kristin enjoys all fitness by sea, land, and air. An aerial fitness enthusiast, Kristin has practiced the art of pole fitness for the past 5 years. After discovering SUP, she realized it's complimentary benefits to her existing workout. She quickly saw that SUP improves balance, core and upper body strength, and cardio, all while enjoying the serenity of our Rhode Island coastal waters. Kristin has been surfing for awhile but was also bitten by the SUP bug and now favors a paddle and standing when she's on a board. Kristin is also a prominent SUP racer and if you can paddle fast enough to catch her, you'll see why she has won many races all over the country. Kristin has also spent time training with Anthony Vela and Performance Paddling. She's no stranger to the water and is the brains behind many of our custom tours and special events. Kristin shares he love for nature, her love for the ocean and her love for the beach with everyone she meets.